Inclined railing



Dec. 10, 1957 w. A. CURTZE ETAL 1 2,815,937

INCLINED RAILING Filed April 19, 1955 FIG. 7

United States Patent INCLINED RAILING Walter A. Curtze, Erie, Pa., andWilliam S. Green, Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada; said Green assignor tosaid Curtze Application April 19, 1955, Serial No. 502,420

1 Claim. (Cl. 256-23) This invention is intended to provide an inclinedrailing for porch steps adapted to manufacture from standard extrudedaluminum shapes with a minimum of fitting to take care of variations inthe height, length and inclination of the steps. Features include arigid support for the posts at each end of the railing, a preassembledrailing including upper and lower channels pivotally connected byspindles so the inclination of the railing can be adjusted and lugs forconnecting the mitered ends of the channels to the posts. All of theseparts can be prefabricated and the only fitting necessary is to miterthe ends of the channels to fit the spacing of the posts and theinclination of the steps. The mitered railing section is then fastenedto the lugs on the posts by a bolted or riveted fastening.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side view of a railing; Fig. 2 is anenlarged fragmentary view with parts broken away and shown in section ofthe lower end of one of the posts; Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 ofFig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a sectionon line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevational view with partsbroken away and shown in section of one of the connections between therailing and post and Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

In the inclined railing shown in Fig. 1, there are end posts 1 and 2 atthe top and bottom steps between which extend inclined upper and lowerrails 3 and 4 connected by spaced vertical spindles 5. It will beunderstood that the inclination of the rails 3 and 4 varies with theinclination of the steps 6 so that ordinarily the railings are custommade for each installation. The construction to be described permits theassembly of such railings from stock parts with the very minimum offitting.

The posts 1 and 2 comprise hollow extruded aluminum squares having theupper ends closed by caps 7. Each of the posts has its lower endtelescoped over an upstanding square portion 8 on a base 9. The base ismade from an aluminum casting. In order to secure adequate strength andrigidity, the base 9 is fastened to the supporting structure, forexample, the cement foundation 10, by a lag screw 11 which is threadedinto an expansion sleeve 12 in a drilled hole 13. As the lag screw isthreaded in place, the head 14 of the lag screw bears against a washer15 recessed at 16 into the upper end of the square portion 8 and placingthe entire base in compression. The precompression of the base makes thesupport for the lower end of the post very strong and rigid which isimportant in railings. There are, of course, many ways of securing thepost to the base, for example, by screws 17 threaded into the upstandingportion 8 of the base.

The upper rail 3 comprises an inner channel 18 and an outer channel 19telescoped over the inner channel and forming a cap rail. The innerchannel 18 has spaced flanges 20 extending upward from a bottom wall 21.The lower rail 4 comprises a channel 22 similar to the channel 18 butarranged in opposed relation in that it has flanges 23 extendingdownward from a bottom wall 24.

2,815,937 Patented Dec. 10, 1957 The channels 18, 19 and 22 may beextruded aluminum shapes. In each of the bottom walls 21 and 24 of thechannels 18 and 22 are elongated openings 25 for receiving the upper andlower ends of the spindles 5. The width of the spindles 5 is the same asthe space between the flanges 20 or 23 as the case may be. The openings25 are somewhat longer than the thickness of the spindles so as toprovide clearance for pivotal movement of the spindles necessary toaccommodate the desired inclination of the rails 3 and 4. The pivotalconnection between the upper and lower ends of the spindles is made byindenting the flanges 18 or 23 as indicated at 27 into holes 28 in thespindle. Because the indentations 27 are formed with the spindles inplace, the hollow imperforate dome-like indented metal at 29 tightlyfits the ends of the openings 28 and provides trunnion pivots for thespindles. Because of the close fit between the flanges and the spindles,this metal is in shear and provides a very strong pivotal connectionbetween the channels and spindles. At the same time, the frictionbetween the indented metal 29 and the bore of the openings 28 is keptlow enough so that the spindles can be readily pivoted with respect tothe rails so as to adjust the spindles to the proper inclination. Theindented connection 27-29 inclusive is much stronger than a rivetedconnection. The holes need be only as deep as the indentations 29.

When the ends of the channels 18 and 22 are anchored to the rigid posts1 and 2, there can be no further pivotal movement between the spindles 5and the channels. Before anchoring the channels to the posts, thespindles are pivoted to the correct angle and the ends of the channelsare mitered so as to fit against the vertical walls of the posts. Toanchor the mitered ends of the channels 18 and 22 lugs 30 are bolted tothe posts. The lugs have integral threaded stems 31 which can easily bebolted to the posts before attaching the posts to the base 9. When thelugs are in place the channels are bolted to the lugs, for example, bybolts 33 extending through holes 34 in the lugs. Only the lug for thelower channel 22 is illustrated. The lugs have surfaces 35, 36respectively tangent to a circle centered on the bolt 33 and inclined atthe maximum and minimum angle of inclination of the rails 3 and 4. Themaximum inclination will ordinarily be approximately 45 and the minimuminclination will be approximately half that. Because the surfaces aretangent to a circle centered on the fastening bolt 33, the arcuatesurface 37 or one or the other of the surfaces 35, 36 will alwayscontact the inner surface of the bottom wall 24 or 21 of the channels asthe case may be and provide the necessary rigid support for thechannels.

In the installation of the railing, the bases 9 for the posts 1 and 2are solidly bolted in place by means of the lag screws 14. The posts 1and 2 are then telescoped over the projections 8 on the base and a stockrailing section can then be adjusted to the proper inclination so thatthe spindles 5 will be vertical and parallel to the posts. The ends ofthe upper and lower rails 3 and 4 are then mitered, this being the firstfitting operation performed in the field. Holes are then drilled in theposts 1 and 2 for the lugs 30 and the lugs bolted in place. This is thesecond fitting operation to be performed in the field. The channels 18and 22 are then fastened to the lugs and the posts with the railingassembled thereto may then be permanently fastened to the projections 8on the bases 9.

What is claimed as new is:

In a railing of the type having upper and lower channels with spacedflanges in vertical planes, vertical spindles having upper and lowerends received between the flanges of the respective channels, said upperand 4 lower ends of the spindles having aligned indents therespindles,the indentations in the flanges being formed into in in the sides of thespindles adjacent the inner surfaces the indents in the spindles afterthe insertion of the of the flanges, and the flanges having alignedindentations spindles between the flanges to complete the assembly.therein extending inward from the outer surfaces of the flanges andproviding hollow irnperforate dome-like pro- 5 References Cited in thefile of this Patent jections on the inner surfaces of the channelstightly fit- NITED STATES PATENTS ting in and conforming with theadjacent portions of the 2 327 311 Lundy Aug 17, 1943 indents in thespindles to provide trunnion pivots for the 2,563,530 Hawkins Aug. 7,1951

